While KKR will be bolstered by Narine’s return, MI have a 9-2 record against them at the Wankhede

Vishal Dikshit30-Mar-20251:48

Rapid Fire Review – Serious concerns for Mumbai?

Big picture – MI seek first win on homecomingWhether you are in Mumbai city or the Mumbai Indians (MI) dressing room, it has started getting hot. While the temperatures in Mumbai have hit 35°C, MI must be feeling uneasy about their position on the points table: tenth.MI have traditionally been slow starters in the IPL, having not won their opening game since 2012, and scraping through to the playoffs at the last minute at times, including in 2023. While they could draw confidence from their 2023 campaign – they were without Jasprit Bumrah even then – they have plenty of other kinks to iron out this time as they prepare to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday.In captain Hardik Pandya’s own words, MI’s top order hasn’t come to the party yet, with totals of 155 for 9 and 160 for 6 in two games so far. Against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday, they committed numerous fielding errors and probably made a mistake with their batting order too. As they finally get home after two away games, they have had only one day’s break.Related

Sunil Narine fit to play against Mumbai Indians on Monday

Manjrekar: 'Things are slipping away' for Rohit Sharma

KKR coach bats for home teams getting favourable conditions

In the absence of Bumrah, who would have been primarily their death bowler, MI’s new-ball specialists – Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar – have largely been ineffective, with just one wicket between them in the powerplay. Lack of runs from the senior batters – especially Rohit Sharma – is hurting them too. The sooner MI fix those issues, the better it will be as two of their next three games are again away from home.KKR, meanwhile, don’t have that many issues to worry about. They adjusted very well on the slow track of Guwahati even without Sunil Narine, who was unwell for that game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) but is now 100% fit. Different batters chipped in against RR and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and be it spin department or pace, KKR’s bowling looks a lot more potent and well-rounded than MI’s. They have not even had to bowl Andre Russell yet, who was their joint-second-highest wicket-taker in the victorious campaign last season.Will Mitchell Santner miss out if MI include Reece Topley?•Mumbai IndiansTeam news and likely XIIsMI left out Will Jacks and recent-debutant Vignesh Puthur against GT to bring in Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Hardik. They might bring in the tall left-arm quick Reece Topley for the red-soil surface at home, which aids pace and bounce. Topley’s ability to bowl yorkers will give MI another option in the death overs on a ground with small boundaries. Including him could mean leaving out either Mujeeb or Mitchell Santner.Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Robin Minz, 7 Naman Dhir, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Mitchell Santner/Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Trent Boult, 11 S Raju, 12 Reece TopleyNarine will slot right back in for KKR, which means leaving Moeen Ali out despite him bagging 2 for 23 against RR.Kolkata Knight Riders (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Spencer Johnson, 10 Vaibhav Arora, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Harshit RanaBig questionShould Hardik bat ahead of Robin Minz? When Hardik returned to action in Ahmedabad, the captain sent the inexperienced Minz above himself when MI needed a stiff 100 off 51 balls on a tricky pitch. Hardik himself may want to shoulder more responsibility going forward to not leave as much work for Minz.In the spotlight – Rohit Sharma and Angkrish RaghuvanshiRohit Sharma bagged a duck against CSK, and lasted just four balls to score 8 against GT when an inducker from Mohammed Siraj castled him. While many batters may not have had an answer to that Siraj delivery, Rohit’s dismissal against CSK – a flick to midwicket – brought back memories of similar dismissals that plagued him in the Tests against New Zealand and Australia, and in the Ranji Trophy before he got back into runs in ODIs. Despite a century against England at home and a 76 in the Champions Trophy final, Rohit looks far from the batter that used to take down bowlers after having his eye in, in the IPL. Now, back to his home ground where he has played for nearly 20 years, MI will bank on Rohit to give them the start they missed in the first two matches.Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored quick runs in the middle order•AFP/Getty ImagesAlso returning home is Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who moved from Delhi to Mumbai at the age of 11. He has, however, played only one game at the senior level at the Wankhede – in last year’s IPL – when he scored 13 off six balls against MI. But he has had two good IPL seasons, and with his tall frame and sound technique, he will hope to get some runs in the city that has adopted him.Pitch and conditionsThis is the first game at the Wankhede this IPL, and the ground is expected to see humidity and a decent sea breeze coming in from Marine Drive. Even though the dew isn’t expected to play a big role, the teams might still play it safe and bowl first. With short boundaries awaiting the crowd that is likely to make the game a sellout, they should be ready for some catching practice.Key stats Boult and Chahar with the new ball against KKR’s top order could make for a delicious contest. Boult has dismissed Ajinkya Rahane three times in six IPL innings (strike rate 97), Narine four times in four T20s (strike rate 135), and Quinton de Kock six times in nine T20s (strike rate 114). Chahar has also removed de Kock four times (strike rate 117.50), Rahane four times in four IPL innings (strike rate 91.30), and Narine twice in four T20s but while leaking at 209.09. The Wankhede is also a home ground for KKR’s new captain Rahane, who averages 40 there in the IPL against MI, with three half-centuries from ten innings. Rahane scored his fastest IPL half-century, off 19 balls, at the Wankhede two years ago when he was with CSK. MI dominate KKR in the head-to-head rivalry at this ground, with a 9-2 record. However, KKR have won five of the last six matches against MI.Venkatesh Iyer’s lowest score against MI is 42. He averages 72.40 against them in six matches, with a century and three half-centuries, while striking at 165.29. Rohit has been dismissed by Narine ten times in all T20s. No bowler has dismissed a batter more times, which is level with Dwayne Bravo getting Kieron Pollard, who are in the KKR and MI dressing rooms, respectively. Suryakumar Yadav is only 20 away from 8000 runs in T20s.Next three fixturesAfter their first home game at Wankhede, Mumbai fly out to Lucknow to play Lucknow Super Giants, then come back to host RCB before going to Delhi to play Delhi Capitals.KKR will return home from the west coast for two home fixtures – against Sunrisers Hyderabad and LSG – before going down south to play CSK.Quotes”There should not be a concern [about the batting]… and it’s [at an] early stage. But at the same point of time, I think batters have to come to the party. And yeah, hopefully they come soon.”
“More than anything, I’m focused on how well our team played in the last game. Mumbai Indians haven’t been performing at that level, which gives us another advantage to put pressure on them.”

Barcelona legend Xavi has explained why Lamine Yamal was beaten to the 2025 Ballon d’Or by Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele. One exciting forward that used to grace the books at Camp Nou pipped one that is starring in the present to the title of best player on the planet. Dembele fended off the challenge of teenage wonderkid Yamal to collect the first Golden Ball of his career.

Can Yamal match Messi in the Ballon d'Or stakes?

Yamal is expected to go on and claim plenty in the future, with it being suggested that he could match or eclipse the efforts of fellow La Masia academy graduate Lionel Messi – who has eight Ballons d’Or to his name and is widely considered to be the greatest player ever to lace up a pair of boots.

Time is on Yamal’s side when it comes to achieving such feats, as he is just 18 years of age. He has signed a lucrative new contract at Barcelona and inherited the iconic No.10 shirt that Messi once filled with such distinction. He is already considered to form part of the global elite, with that standing being highlighted in his runner-up finish behind Dembele.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWhy Dembele beat Yamal to Golden Ball in 2025

Former Barca player and manager Xavi believes there were a number of contenders to land the Golden Ball in 2025, with Dembele ultimately emerging as a deserving winner. The ex-Spain international told when asked about Yamal missing out: “This time, collective titles weighed more heavily. For me, of course, he deserved it. So did Vitinha, [Mohamed] Salah, Pedri, and Raphinha… many players deserved it. But in the end, titles count more. Lamine will win it, I’m convinced – but when his team wins the Champions League or a World Cup.”

Xavi was the man to hand Yamal his senior debut for Barcelona at 15 years of age. He had been knocking on the door prior to that, with it impossible to limit such potential. The youngster has come a long way in a short space of time, with La Liga and European Championship titles being added to his CV.

Xavi explains why Yamal was destined for greatness

Xavi added on helping to put the hottest of prospects on the path to potential greatness: “I feel very proud of what Lamine is doing and of having given him the chance to make his debut. I saw him as very prepared despite being 15. He was very confident, very capable, making a difference in training. He wasn’t afraid of anything. From the very first day, he stood out. For me, he’s one of the chosen ones and can define an era in world football. He has no complexes, no fear whatsoever.”

Barca always expected Yamal to reach the very top of the game, despite being a rough diamond in need of some polishing. Xavi remains convinced that the teenager will win a Golden Ball at some stage.

He added when asked if that standing was clear from day one: “Yes, without a doubt. We said it among the staff – we said he was Ballon d’Or material. Watching him train, you could already see something different. You immediately realised he was one of the chosen ones.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesYamal injury: How long teenage wonderkid will be out for

Yamal is being forced to take in another enforced spell on the sidelines at present. He picked up a groin injury while on international duty in September and, after taking a period of rest, aggravated that when returning to action against Real Sociedad. He will play no part for his country in their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria.

It has been claimed that Yamal will be out for “two or three weeks”, with Barca needing to nurse him back to full health. A break in domestic competition will aid that cause, with the reigning La Liga champions playing host to Catalan neighbours Girona on October 18 – with others, such as on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, needing to step up in Yamal’s absence.

Tottenham have sent shockwaves through the footballing world by announcing that former chairman, Daniel Levy, has stepped down from his role overseeing club operations — 25 years after he took the reins from Sir Alan Sugar.

During his two-and-a-half-decade-long stay at Spurs, Levy transformed the club into a financial powerhouse off the field.

Real Madrid

£1.2 billion

Man City

£727 million

PSG

£700 million

Man United

£668 million

Bayern Munich

£664 million

FC Barcelona

£659.5 million

Arsenal

£621.5 million

Liverpool

£620 million

Tottenham Hotspur

£533 million

Chelsea

£474 million

Their state-of-the-art new stadium and training facilities are among the best in world football, with Levy deserving credit for departing N17 in a much more stable condition than he inherited.

However, on the field, it was a different story.

Levy attracted consistent criticism for his lack of spending compared to other members of the Premier League ‘big six’, and that is widely seen as a real factor in Tottenham only winning two major trophies during the 63-year-old’s tenure.

Levy was at the centre of mass protests, particularly last season, with ENIC taking the decision to part company despite the official statement reading that he left of his own accord.

This is backed up by other reliable media sources, with ENIC’s plan to get more involved at Tottenham essentially weakening Levy’s cast-iron grip on the club, according to insider Paul O’Keefe.

The brutal way Tottenham told Daniel Levy he'd be leaving

Now, according to The Times, it is believed that Levy was told he’d be stepping down from Tottenham in rather brutal fashion.

Indeed, as per their information, Spurs informed Levy of the decision just hours before the club publicly announced it.

Given just how big a role he’s played in making Tottenham a powerhouse away from the pitch, perhaps this wasn’t the most dignified of endings for Levy, despite his mixed reviews from supporters.

In any case, Spurs are adamant that a “new era” has begun after Levy’s departure, which comes months after the ex-chair’s statement that he wanted to win both the Premier League and Champions League.

Wayne Rooney has bemoaned one “crazy” West Ham United “problem” and Graham Potter’s “lack of belief”, following the recent 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace.

West Ham suffer another setback against Crystal Palace

Potter appears to be on very thin ice after the 2-1 defeat at home against Crystal Palace last time out, with the West Ham hierarchy now running the rule over potential replacements.

Following the most recent loss, the Hammers are 19th in the Premier League table, having tasted defeat in four of their opening five games, with Gary O’Neil and Sean Dyche also entering the frame as potential Potter replacements.

In the wake of yet another loss, Rooney has bemoaned the Hammers’ inability to defend set-pieces, while also calling into question the atmosphere at the club.

Related West Ham now weigh up concrete approach to sign £17m England international

West Ham now weighing up concrete approach for £17m England international.

Posts ByDominic Lund Sep 21, 2025

The former Manchester United man said: “I analysed the set-pieces yesterday, last night, on Match of the Day and it’s all second balls. Graham Potter came out and said they’ve been working on set plays, so as a coach there’s only so much you can do, but they’re not winning the first header and the problem is they’re not reacting quick enough, and then the second ball, they’re conceding goals.

“So, it’s crazy to concede seven from five, but when you have a lack of confidence and a lack of belief – I think that’s clear with the West Ham players and the fans as well I can imagine. There’s a lack of a belief in the team, and it looks like the owners and the manager.”

Potter must fix defensive issues to keep his job

Defending from set-pieces has undoubtedly been a major issue for the Irons, with Potter saying: “We’ve addressed [our weakness from dead-balls] and we’re working to improve it. We conceded too many, had to defend a lot. That is something we also have to look at. It’s just constant work on the training ground.”

However, having been in the dugout since January, the 50-year-old has had more than enough time to fix the glaring problems, and there have been very few promising signs, winning just six of the 25 games he has taken charge of.

The Hammers have also conceded 13 goals already this season, the highest number of any Premier League side, so it is clear their top-flight status could be in jeopardy if there is not either a radical improvement or a change in manager.

While he arguably wouldn’t be the flashiest of appointments, Dyche could be a solid option for West Ham, at least on a short-term basis, having led Everton to safety when the Toffees were in a similar position.

Flags at half mast at Kia Oval after bereavement in family synonymous with Surrey County Cricket Club

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Apr-2025Lynn Stewart, wife of former England and Surrey captain, Alec Stewart, has passed away after a 12-year battle with breast cancer.On Monday, flags were flown at half-mast above the Micky Stewart Members Pavilion at the Kia Oval, as a mark of respect on the final day of Surrey’s Division One County Championship match with Hampshire. Surrey players also wore black armbands in memory of Lynn.Both gestures were acknowledgements of a bereavement within a family that has been an intrinsic part of the club’s history. Micky represented the club between 1954 and 1972, before Alec followed in his father’s footsteps between 1981 and 2003.Alec returned to Surrey in 2013 as director of cricket but made the decision to relinquish the role last year to care for Lynn. “I want to give her, and my family, more of my time over the coming years than this job allows,” he said at the time.Surrey won the 2024 County Championship, registering a third successive title in Alec’s last full season – a fourth of his tenure – before the 62-year old stepped back to a part-time role as High-Performance Cricket Advisor.In a statement released by Surrey, club chair Ollie Slipper said: “The sincere condolences of everyone at Surrey County Cricket Club are with Alec and the whole Stewart family.”Our very best wishes are with the family and we will continue to offer any support to them that we are able to. In the meantime, we ask that people respect their privacy at this difficult time.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Gols e teor de emoção não foram coisas que faltaram na tarde deste sábado (29), em Curitiba, no duelo da 17ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro entre Athletico-PR e Cruzeiro. Com isso, o jogo que parecia mostrar considerável superioridade dos visitantes transformou o 2 a 1 do intervalo para os cruzeirenses em um bastante agitado 3 a 3 na Ligga Arena.

O resultado em questão deixou o Furacão na sexta posição, com 27 pontos, enquanto a Raposa está em 10° lugar, tendo 23.

>Assista aos jogos do seu clube do coração com aquela gelada! Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00

QUE ESTREIA!

Bastaram apenas sete minutos para o atacante Arthur Gomes transformar seu primeiro jogo com a camisa da equipe mineira em um momento inesquecível. Mostrando oportunismo, o camisa 19 posicionou-se bem na segunda trave após falta batida por Lucas Silva no lado direito na qual, depois do desvio de Neris, apenas tocou de cabeça pras redes. Marcador inaugurado na Ligga Arena pelo lado dos visitantes.

Enquanto o Athletico-PR aparentava viver uma clara situação na qual o caráter de nervosismo para buscar o empate atrapalhava na execução de gestos técnicos, errando muitos passes, a equipe de Belo Horizonte se valia de linhas de marcação compactas e saídas em velocidade para o campo de ataque. E foi em um dos equívocos do adversário, ainda na saída de bola, que Wesley teve espaço para avançar no lado direito e cruzar rasteiro. Arthur Gomes, de novo, tinha plenas condições para marcar e assim o fez.

CHANCE PARA REAGIR

Mesmo distante de fazer uma partida com bom nível técnico e tático, o Athletico-PR buscou forças para iniciar seu processo de reação e a bola aérea foi determinante para reduzir a distância no placar. Em batida de falta no lado direito com Vitor Bueno, Madson não foi bem para cabecear na primeira trave, mas viu a bola cair no seu pé direito e acertou chute cruzado que superou Rafael Cabral. O gol trouxe o time (e também o torcedor) do Furacão novamente para o confronto.

INACREDITÁVEL!

Os times sequer tinham demonstrado qual seria o cenário da partida na etapa complementar e um nome vindo do banco de reservas, Pablo, perdeu uma oportunidade gigantesca de deixar tudo igual na Ligga Arena. Depois de nova cobrança de falta executada por Vitor Bueno e com o toque de Madson, a bola atravessou a grande área e o centroavante, sem marcação, tocou com o pé e viu a pelota carimbar a trave direita de Rafael Cabral antes de sair.

>Assista aos jogos do seu clube do coração com aquela gelada! Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00

EMOÇÃO (QUASE) SEM FIM
As alterações feitas no sentido de usar peças mais habituadas à titularidade no Athletico-PR fizeram com que o time mostrasse maior capacidade em ter o controle das ações e, consequentemente, fazendo o Cruzeiro se retrair no campo defensivo, preocupado em sustentar a dianteira aberta ainda na etapa inicial. Foi nesse ritmo que Pablo teve nova oportunidade (a bola passou na sua frente sem que ele conseguisse tocar pras redes) e Canobbio, em batida de fora da área para ótima defesa de Bento, tiveram boas chances de igualar o placar na Baixada.

A partir daí, o confronto que parecia se resumir às investidas dos anfitriões e a resistência cruzeirense na busca pela vitória se mostrou bem mais do que isso até o apito final. Isso porque Pablo, após jogada que Canobbio fez o cruzamento e Madson ajeitou, Pablo finalmente deixou sua marca e colocou o 2 a 2 no marcador. Apenas quatro minutos depois, Wesley voltou a colocar o time mineiro na frente depois de grande jogada de Lucas Silva, mas Fernandinho, em penalidade cometida pelo goleiro Rafael Cabral em Canobbio, decretou o agitado placar de 3 a 3 na Ligga Arena.

RelacionadasFutebol InternacionalLiverpool x Leicester: onde assistir, horário e prováveis escalações do amistosoFutebol Internacional29/07/2023Fora de CampoEncontro em família! Messi, Busquets e Beckham saem para jantar juntos em MiamiFora de Campo29/07/2023Futebol LatinoEdinson Cavani vestirá a camisa 10 no Boca JuniorsFutebol Latino29/07/2023

FICHA TÉCNICA DA PARTIDA
ATHLETICO-PR 3 x 3 CRUZEIRO – Campeonato Brasileiro – 17ª rodada

Local: Ligga Arena, em Curitiba (PR)
Data e horário: 29 de julho de 2023, às 16h (horário de Brasília)
Árbitro: Yuri Elino Ferreira da Cruz (RJ)
Assistentes: Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Correa (RJ) e Thiago Henrique Neto Correa Farinha (RJ)
VAR: Carlos Eduardo Nunes Braga (RJ)
Cartões amarelos: Vidal (CAP); Palacios, Rafael Cabral, Wesley e William (CRU)
Cartões vermelhos:

Gols: Arthur Gomes, 7’/1°T (0-1) e 36’/1ºT (0-2), Madson, 41’/1°T (1-2), Pablo, 32’/2°T (2-2), Wesley, 36’/2°T (2-3) e Fernandinho, 42’/2°T (3-3)

ATHLETICO-PR
Bento; Madson, Matheus Felipe (Arriagada, 43’/2°T), Thiago Heleno e Esquivel; Hugo Moura (Fernandinho – intervalo), Vidal (Erick – intervalo) e Vitor Bueno (Zapelli, 27’/2°; Canobbio, Vitor Roque e Cuello (Pablo – intervalo). Técnico: Wesley Carvalho.

CRUZEIRO
Rafael Cabral; Palacios (William, 22’/2°T), Neris, Luciano Castán e Marlon; Matheus Jussa, Lucas Silva (Fernando Henrique, 42’/2°T), Machado (Matheus Pereira, 43’/2°T) e Mateus Vital (Wallisson, 18’/2°T); Wesley e Arthur Gomes (Nikão, 17’/2°T). Técnico: Pepa.

GT had their biggest-ever powerplay of 82 for 0, as the SRH bowlers struggled in Ahmedabad

ESPNcricinfo staff02-May-2025

Shubman Gill struck 76 in 38 balls•BCCI

The Gujarat Titans (GT) top three continued their purple patch, scoring 48, 76 and 24, to help them post 224 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill are now Nos. 1, 3 and 4 on the leader board for runs in this IPL. Gill scored 76 off 38 balls, Sudharsan 48 off 23, and Buttler 64 off 37.Buttler’s innings was important because it came when the SRH bowlers had got their act together. At the start, SRH put in arguably the worst bowling performance of the year. Mohammed Shami was sluggish, and struggled on the line on both sides of the wicket; Pat Cummins offered three half volleys in his one over; and Harshal Patel bowled full tosses. The result was GT’s biggest-ever powerplay, 82 for 0, without playing a shot in anger. A measure of how little they had to venture was how only four of these runs came through false shots.Shami offered a leg-side freebie to Gill in the first over, and then got cut and pulled for five fours by Sai Sudharsan in the third. Cummins then provided Gill the leg-up by bowling in the slot for two fours and a six. The bleeding stopped only when Zeeshan Ansari had Sai Sudharsan caught at the wicket while trying to run the ball behind square.It resulted in two overs without a boundary, but Gill and Buttler picked up again. The first unforced error from GT came at the end of the 13th over when Gill just ambled through for a single, allowing Heinrich Klaasen to pull off a deflection run-out MS Dhoni would be proud of.Washington Sundar never really got a measure of the pace of the pitch, which should suggest GT had put on a good score. However, a tired Buttler in the 40-plus degrees of heat found enough sixes to take GT past 220.

Chelsea have identified a Real Madrid star as one of their top targets for 2026 already, with BlueCo prepared to meet the player’s asking price, according to a new report.

Enzo Maresca’s side ranked among the Premier League’s biggest-spending teams during the summer window, splashing close to £290 million, but their array of player sales meant that Chelsea actually recorded a small profit.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

The west Londoners, and quite rightly so, have earned a reputation for being one of England’s most prolific selling clubs, and if Bayern Munich trigger Nicolas Jackson’s obligation to buy clause next summer, they’ll stand to earn a further £56 million on top of his record-breaking loan fee.

Interestingly, Jackson could face off against Chelsea in the Champions League this evening, with Vincent Kompany handed a dilemma over playing the Senegalese against his parent club.

The 24-year-old’s potential sale would do wonders to fund Chelsea’s 2026 summer plans, and they have a few key items on the agenda already. If Maresca cannot sign a centre-back in January, it’s something they’ll reportedly visit later in the new year.

Elsewhere in the squad, a fresh claim has surfaced that Real Madrid star Eduardo Camavinga is firmly on Chelsea’s radar.

Chelsea identify Eduardo Camavinga as top target for 2026

According to reports from Spain, Chelsea are eyeing Camavinga as one of their priority signings for 2026.

The Frenchman is yet to make a single appearance under Xabi Alonso this season after just returning from an ankle injury, but was on the bench for Real’s 2-1 win over Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Valued at around £52 million, it is believed that Chelsea are prepared to pay that price for Camavinga, and if any club were to offer it, Real would also be happy to negotiate his exit.

Would Eduardo Camavinga fit in at Chelsea?

Maresca already boasts a star-studded midfield of Enzo Fernández, Moises Caicedo, the returning Roméo Lavia and Dario Essugo — although the latter is set to be sidelined for a lengthy period after surgery.

The 22-year-old is a player of real quality when fit and available, but Camavinga’s worrying injury record comes as a real warning to BlueCo.

He made just 35 appearances in all competitions last season — missing nearly 30 games through a combination of knee, muscle and hamstring problems — and the last thing Chelsea need is an injury-prone player who’s barely available.

That being said, Camavinga has also attracted huge praise for his performances at the Bernabeu.

West Ham United have endured somewhat of a dilemma at centre-back in recent days, with Graham Potter yet to have an established partnership at the heart of his defence.

Max Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos started the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday – subsequently keeping their first clean sheet of the new Premier League season.

However, Nayef Aguerd looks set to depart the Hammers after refusing to travel with the squad for the trip to the East Midlands – with Marseille expected to land the Moroccan before the transfer deadline.

As a result, the manager and the hierarchy have been tirelessly targeting other options in the market to try and bolster the depth in such a department.

Numerous names have been mentioned throughout deadline day, with multiple players being frequently mentioned over a switch to the London Stadium.

West Ham’s hunt for a centre-back on deadline day

Earlier today, Braga star Bright Arrey-Mbi was seen as a viable option for West Ham – with a deal seemingly heading in the right direction before the 7pm deadline.

However, a deal has since gone quiet, which has seen the Hammers’ hierarchy pursue moves for various other targets – mainly in the Premier League.

The latest name mentioned is Chelsea’s Axel Disasi, with the Frenchman currently not part of Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans for the 2025/26 campaign.

It’s been reported by journalist Fabrice Hawkins that Potter’s side have made a late approach to the Blues to try and sign the 27-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa.

It’s unclear if the deal is a permanent or temporary one, but the Hammers are making a last-ditch attempt to secure his signature before the window slams shut.

Why West Ham’s latest is better than Igor

Deadline day always springs up a surprise or two, with this year’s instalment being no different – with West Ham being involved in a saga to land Brighton star Igor Julio.

The Brazilian centre-back has been allowed to depart by manager Fabian Hürzeler, after dropping down the pecking order in recent months at the AMEX.

He looked set to complete a loan move to Crystal Palace, but Oliver Glasner’s side pulled the plug on the transfer – resulting in Potter’s men taking advantage in recent hours.

It’s been reported that the 27-year-old has since travelled to East London to complete a move to join the Irons – but the hierarchy face a race against time to complete the transfer.

However, despite the move for the Brazilian, they could still complete a transfer for Disasi in the closing stages of the window – further adding needed depth to the backline.

When comparing their respective stats from the Premier League last season, the Chelsea man managed to outperform him in key areas – subsequently making him a better addition for Potter and Co.

Disasi, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by one content creator, managed to win more tackles and came out on top in more aerial battles – offering a needed defensive presence given the Hammers’ tally of eight goals conceded in three league games.

How Disasi & Igor compared in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Disasi	Igor
Games played	13	13
Goals & assists	1	0
Tackles won	1.1	0.4
% of tackles won	50%	40%
Interceptions made	0.8	0.3
Clearances made	3.7	3.1
Progressive carries	1.7	0.8
Aerials won	1.4	0.7
Aerial success rate	62%	57%
Stats via FBref

His dominance over Igor defensively is further highlighted in his tally of clearances and interceptions made per 90 – further handing Frank the added quality he craves at the back.

In possession, the Frenchman has been just as impressive, completing more progressive carries per 90 – arguably being a great ball-playing option should the side want to play out from the back.

While both players could make the move to the London Stadium, it’s clear that Disasi would provide the side with the added quality they desperately crave in the defensive third.

The signings could play a huge part in the club’s future in the Premier League, with Potter’s side desperately needing to build on their recent triumph at the City Ground.

Shades of Isak: West Ham consider last-gasp move for "monster" £29m striker

The international goalscorer would be unreal for Graham Potter and West Ham United.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 1, 2025

Leeds United were ultimately left scrambling for options in search of attacking reinforcements and that reportedly resulted in a last-gasp bid to sign an impressive star.

The transfer targets that Leeds missed

Initially, like Sunderland, Leeds enjoyed an excellent start to the summer. They welcomed the likes of Sean Longstaff and Jaka Bijol. The 49ers were ready to back their man in the hunt of becoming the first in six promoted sides to avoid Premier League relegation at the first time of asking. Challenges quickly appeared, however, and as such, top targets moved ou of their grasp.

It looked as though Igor Paixao was destined for Elland Road in a statement deal early in the window, before Marseille swooped in. Links also emerged with Everton’s Beto and Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz, but the Whites were quickly forced to settle on a free deal for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Once again, Daniel Farke missed out on his top target.

As for the latter stages of the window, it was all about a No.10 for those in Yorkshire. Alas, a familiar story unfolded. This time, it was Facundo Buonanotte and Emiliano Buendia who burst their bubble, with the former heading to Chelsea in surprising fashion and the latter opting to stay put at Villa Park.

After taking four points from a possible nine to get off to a solid start this season, Farke will hope that his side is still strong enough to avoid the drop this season. Even he admitted before the transfer window closed that he needed to see more goals added to his side.

It is also worth noting that Leeds looked down their list of options right until the deadline and even saw an offer rejected for a Championship star.

Leeds lodged late Hamer bid

According to Sheffield United reporter Callum Cheswick, Leeds launched a late offer to sign Gus Hamer, only for Sheffield United to hand them a swift rejection amid a feeling that their offer was below the midfielder’s valuation.

Whether Leeds should have gone in for Hamer a second time is the question that they decided to leave unanswered. According to Cheswick, the Sheffield United star would have been content to stay at the club if he felt as though his valuation hadn’t been met, but became open to a move away from the club and back to the Netherlands throughout the window.

In the end, it’s a case of what if for Leeds, who attempted to sign a player that former Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder dubbed a “standout” star last season.